PIP

[Vonny1]

Okay so I claim pip because my right arm is deemed useless because of arthritis , now exactly the same as came back on an mri scan for the left arm like don't lift anything no shopping washing yourself is a problem etc... surely this will deem me to have the mobility part of pip , what are your thoughts, I know the details are sketchy.

Probably not. All the mobility questions are about how far you can walk.

But I'm no expert.

PIP has 2 parts - personal care and mobility

You get PIP because you need help with personal care because of your arm.
The mobility part is tor people who cannot walk far, cannot walk safely due to repeated falls, or cannot go out accompanied as they wouldn't be able to find there way around due to cognitive or mental health condition.

So you would need to meet one of those criteria and evidence it to be successful in claiming mobility

As above you need to not be able to walk or walk reliably or not be able to do au unifiliar journey alone because of mental health issues to qualify for mobility. I can't see how having limited use of your arms would mean you would be eligible for mobility. If you are just getting standard daily living and your difficulties with those descriptors are worse then you could report a change and possibly be awarded the enhanced rate of daily living, but there is always a risk to the award.

Wonder if anyone can give me some clarity on the following text message….

We've received the written report of your PIP assessment. We will write to you once we've made a decision on your PIP. As a guide you should hear from us within 8 weeks. You don't need to contact us unless any of the details you gave us have changed. Thank you.

I have recently submitted my application along with supporting evidence. I have had no contact from DWP until this message. I have not had any form of assessment.

This is my first benefit claim. I’m feeling very confused 🤷‍♀️

@Clarabel27 if someone submits very good supporting evidence of their disability and has an HCP actively involved in their care then sometimes the PIP assessor contacts the HCP for any further info they need. If assessor then feels they have enough to make a decision then they don't always call you for an assessment.
Could this be the case with you?

There's a Facebook page with guides, advice and support. Benefits and work website is helpful and fir a small annual fee provide complete guide to all aspects of pip.

Mobility element is very strict. As awful as it is struggling with using your arms will not qualify you for mobility element.

This should help.

I gave the details of my GP & neurologist, it’s a possibility, but I don’t imagine they would have made contact so quickly?

This means they've done a paper-based assessment based purely on what you've submitted. This is good news!!

I disagree. Not being able to use arms means she will be unable to go out unaccompanied. How will she carry shopping, open doors etc?

@Vonny1 please see my above post about being unaccompanied whilst out. I personally believe you will be entitled to the mobility component. Please call PIP and tell them your condition has worsened and they may not even bother with an assessment if you have documents/report from your MRI.

Unfortunately @SchoolTripDrama that doesn't come into consideration when PIP assess mobility. You can disagree as much as you want but these are the assessments they stick to.

I'm not for a second saying that I agree or that this is right. It's shit. But if you can physically walk then you won't get the mobility points, regardless of what your arms can do.

The whole system needs an overhaul.

Does the issue with your arms cause you balance issues when walking OP? If so this could be a possibility as you’d not be safe walking any distance.

@SchoolTripDrama what each PIP question considers is very specifically outlined, and the moving around question is concerned with the claimant's ability to stand on at least one biological foot and walk reliably, safely, and without severe discomfort on typical ground outdoors (so flat pavements really; kerbs are considered but not stairs). It does not consider a claimant's ability to open doors and carry shopping.

OP I agree with others that the deterioration in your condition affecting your arms won't score you more points on mobility, unless it leaves you feeling much more vulnerable somehow and so you may score on the other mobility question, which in part considers the affect of "Overwhelming Psychological Distress" on a claimant's ability to undertake journeys. The threshold for OPD is very high though and might not apply to you in the slightest (not enough detail given). Also agree with a PP that if you don't already receive the enhanced rate for daily living, you could look at those questions again to see if you could now score more points.

That is also a decent point about balance potentially being affected, actually. I think you'd have to show you are now at real risk of falling on most days though, or that it now takes you more than twice as long as someone without a disability to walk a given distance, because of poor balance or some other difficulty caused by the second arm now being affected.

@Clarabel27 they may not have contacted either your GP or neurologist, but just been able to assess your case on your form and any other evidence submitted. None of the HCPs I've put down have ever been contacted in 18 years of claiming sickness and disability benefits, and I believe it's quite typical that they don't bother.

Can anyone suggest how long from receiving this text I should wait before asking for a copy of the written report?

I do hope so, it’s been such a stressful journey!!!

@Clarabel27 if the DWP have received the PA3 report from a paper-based assessment, they can send it to you now. So you could ring up tomorrow and ask for a copy, if you want to see it before getting the decision.

@Clarabel27 how long after you filled in your form did you receive that message. I’ve been waiting about 5 weeks and not heard anything

@Upallnightagain3 did u get it ? X